Electrocentrifugal separator



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A. MARX ELECTROCENTRIFUGAL SEPARATOR Film July 13, 1923 `Parental o zo, i925. y

,UNITEDFSTAT PATENT FFICE.`

Amann Manx, or raars, rnANcE.

` ELECTROCENTRIFUGAL SEPABATQR.

Application led July 13,

To aZZ whom t may conccmf Be it known that I, ALFRED Marigot 16 Boulevard Voltaire, Paris,.France, engineer, have invented Electrocentrifugal Separators, of which the following is a full, clear,

and exact description.

It is known that if an electric field is caused to pass in a liquid or gaseous fluid containing liquid or solid particles in fineV suspension or in a colloidal condition, these particles tend to move in a ydetermined direction.

This phenomenon is generally called cataphoresis and the known apparatuses based on this phenomenon usually comprise two metallic cylinders concentrically `arranged within each other so as to form an annular conduit through which circulates the fluid to be treated.

The two cylinders, electrically insulated from each other, are respectively connected to thetwo poles of a suitable source of electricity, so that betweeny these two electrodes an electric field is produced and that the particles in suspension in the fluid are electrified and projected on the inner surface of the outer cylinder.

" In these apparatuses, the whole of the two cylinders is fixed so that, when the" their densityis stream of'luid passes through the apparatus, it often draws with it a certain quant-ity fof the particles projected on the inner wall of the outer cylinder and, usually, this fluid comes out of the apparatus only incompletely freed from the particlesgwhich were in suspension therein. This invention lis adapted to remedy this inconvenience and consists, substantially i'n imparting to the apparatus a rotary movement, so that the particles, projected by the electric action, are also projected by the action of the centrifugal vforce and that they thus firmly adhere to the wall on which they are projected; the particles will be caught on the inner face of the outer electrode if reater'than the fluid to be treated and on ie outer face of the inner electrodel if their density is lower than that of the said fluid.

The present invention has therefore for its object a process for the electrocentrifu.- gal separation characterized by the fact that the actionof an electric field, and of centrifugal force are utilized simultaneously for the purpose of obtaining a com lete and accelerated separation of the liqui Aor solid 1923.` Serial No. 651,376.

particles contained in suspension in any liquid or gaseous fiuid.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood, various forms of construction of the apparatus forming the subject-matter of this invention will be described hereafter, by way of example only, with reference to the which: l

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of ay one form of construction of electrocentrifugal separator.-

Fig. 2-is a horizontal section taken on line A A of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a partial diagrammatic vertical longitudinal section of an electro-centrifugal separator. having a capillary action.

Fig. 4 is asimilar view showingan electro-centrifugal separator provided with a rotary bowl of small diameter.

Fig. 5 is a section of an electro-centrifugalseparator provided with'a centripetal iltrating device.

In the form of construction-illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawing, the apparatus comprises a bowl 1 having solid walls, internally provided with radial blades or' vanes 2 and rigidly mounted on a vertical shaft 3 which can receive a rotary movement in a frame 4 of suitable shape.

On the upper end of the shaft 3 is pressed any contact member 5, brush or the like, connected to an electric source, in such a manner that-'the cylindrical wall of the bowl 1 is in communication with one of the poles of the said source.

Within this bowl is concentrically arranged a cylindrical metallic ring 6 against which is also -pressed a brush 7 putting in communication the second pole of the electric source with the said ring 6 which, suitably centered between the blades or vanes 2 o f the bowl, is 'electrically insulated from the latter by insulating packings 8 secured on the edge of the said vanes and by cover- Aing members 9 and 10 of insulating material of the upper ledge .of `the bowl, as clearly shown at 10 in Fig. `1.

The apparatus described above is fed with the Huid to be treated which, contained in the reservoir 11, flows in a continuous manmer through the conduit pipe 12 on the bottom of the bowl 1 which it fills annularly, undel` the action of centrifugal force, be-

accompanying drawing, in4

tween the inner face of the bowl 1 and the outer face of the cylindrical sleeve 6 arranged in the latter.`

rlhis sleeve 6 forming the central electrode might of course rotate with the bowl 1 or it might be lixed and suspended in the latter by any suitable means.

lf the Huid to be treated is a liquid containing a fine or colloidal suspension (water and sulphur) for instance, the solid particles, under the combined actions of centrifugal force and of the diferenceof potential produced by the electric action in the centrifugated liquid, settle: on the wall of the bowl 1, if their density is greater than that of the liquid treated or on the wall of the sleeve 6, if their density is' lower than that of the said liquid.

This sediment is obtained much more rapidly than under the action' of'centrifugal force alone or than under the electric action alone of the apparatus, devised in accordance with the invention, has the important advantage of ensuring not only the complete and rapid separation of the particles in suspension in a uid, but also the fixing of these latter on the walls of the apparatus, so that the said fluid which, in the form of construction illustrated, is collected at the upper part of the apparatus by the discharged conduit p pipe 13 is completely freed from the said particles', whether the latter are solid, as in the above mentioned example, or liquid, as in the case the product to be treated is oil, for example.

In the form of construction illustrated in l Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawing, the

electro-centrifugal separator is composed of a bowl 1 rigidly secured on a vertical shaft 3` receiving in a frame of suitable shape, a rotar movement of high speed.

' n a suitable point of this shaft is held any contact member 5, brush or the like, connected to a source of electricity 14, so that the said shaft, as well as the socket 15, integral with the bowl 1 and feeding in the latter the liquid to be treated, are in constant communication with one of the poles of the said source. y

The cylindrical wall of the bowl 1 is, on the other hand, electrically connected to the other pole of the same source by a suitable contact member 16, brush or the like, and is insulated from the inlet Socket 15 for the uid by a 'packing 17,made of suitable insulating material.

Within this bo. l is arranged a series of plates in close proximityto each other between which the Huid treated, fed into the bowl in the known manner through the socket 15, is divided in capillary sheets.

These superposed plates are each constituted by two metallic surfaces which, in the example shown, have the shape of frusta .18

and l19 fitting in each other and electrically matassa insulated from each other by a packing 20 made of any insulating material.

The various conical elements 18 are connected together as, for instance. in the form of construction illustrated, by metal rods 21 which are secured at their upper end by a circular ledge of the upper plate 22.

The plates 18, 19, which are perforated at 18a, 19a Iand Vin close proximity to each other in the usual manner, are held at the desired distance apart for dividing the Huid to be treated in capillary sheets, by small discs which may be of any suitable arrangement and, in the example described, are constituted by members of insulating material 23.

The upper plate 22 is extended above the set of plates in the shape of a cylindrical sleeve 24 fitting in the upper cylindrical portion of the bowl 1; this upper plate is in direct contact with the bowl 1, so that the elements 18 secured by the rods 21 to the said plate 22, are electrically connected to the same pole as the outer portion of the bowl.

The upper part of the bowl 1 is, on the other hand, insulated by a packing of insulating material 27 from the central socket 15, which is electrically connected, on the one hand, tothe elements 19 of the plates and, on the other hand, through the shaft 3, to the other pole of the source of electricity. In the apparatus described above, the fluid to be treated, introduced in a continuous manner in the vessel 29, passes down through the socket 15, enters through thev conduit pipes 30 presented by the latter into the bowl 1 and passes through the holes 18, 19a of the plates 18, 19 in the capillary interval between these latter.

Under the combined actions of centrifugal force and of the difference of potential produced by the electric action in the centrifugated fluid, the latter which may, for instance, be a mixture of liquids of different densities, separates into its constituent elements, the heavy liquid moves towards the cylindrical wall of the bowl 1, ascends above the nonperforated upper plate 22 and is exhausted through the orifices 31. The' light liquid moves towards the axis of the apparatus by ascending in the ca illary intervals separating the plates an is exhausted through the orifices 32 of the upper plate and of the bowl 1.

In the form of construction shown in Fig.

concentrically arranged within the saidy ,bowl and centered between the venes 2 is which is fitted a i electrically insulated from tne latter by .insulating packings 9 and is connected by a between the bowl 1 and the inner tube 6 and` separates into its constituent elements; the towards the wall of the bowl 1 and is exhausted through the orifice 31, whilst the light liquid moves towards the axis of the apparatus and is exhausted through the orifice 32, as explained above.

In the form of construction shown in Fig. 5, the bowl 1 is in the shape of a cylinder which receives, on the vertical shaft which carries it, a rotary movement of high speed.

This cylindrical bowl, electrically connected to one of the poles of a source of elec- .tricity as previously explained encloses, at

its lower part, a perforated cylindrical or conical sleeve 6 on the outer Vsurface of suitable, filtering element (paper, fabric, etc.).

Thls sleeve 6EL is electrically insulated fromv the bowl 1 by means of insulating packings 9 suitably arranged and is connected tothe second pole of the which is connected the bowl l.

The fluid to be treated, fed in a continuous manner by the conduit pipel 12 takes in the bowl l the shape of an annular crown flooding, at its lower part, the sleeve 6a. This fluid separates into its constituent elements: the heavy product settles on the wall of the bowl 1 and the lighter liquid passes through source of electricity tov the filtering element and flows away through the orifice 32.

The constructional arrangements described above are, of course, given by way of example only, the forms, sions of' the various constituent parts as well as the details of construction may be varied without departing thereby from the principle of the invention.

Claims:

' 1. A process for the separation of suspensions or emulsions, characterized essentially by the fact that the product to be treated is subjected simultaneously to the action of an electric field and of centrifugal force, whereby to obtain rapid and complete Separation of the particles which are in suspension in the fluid to be treated.

2. An electro-centrifugal separator essentially constituted by two metallic cylindrical surfaces concentrically mounted the one in the other, so as to provide between them an annular space in which circulates the product to be treated, these surfaces, electrically insulated from each other, being respectively, connected to the two poles of a source of electricity, and receiving a movement of rotation about their common axis, for the purpose of producing, in the product treated, a difference of potential suitably established at the same time as the centrifugation of the said product and of thus accelerating the separation of the particles in suspension in the latter.

The foregoing specification of my Electro-centrifugal separator, signed by me this 29th day of June 1923.

ALFRED MARX.

materials and dimen- 

